Taijiquan (T'ai Chi) and other Internal Martial Arts Articles:

Emory University, In a study sponsored by National Institute of Health finds ancient T'ai Chi Ch'uan exercises effective in preventing falls within the elderly population. Published in 1995, but still a valuable resource.

Every complete Chinese martial arts system includes elements of Qigong. Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang), one of the most famous Neijia systems, contains such exercises which Master Park Bok Nam describes in detail.

The process of learning to take punches, hits, blows, or pushes is very important to help us deepen our practice and ground us in our taiji. Unfortunately, people believe that taiji is this pretty soft style where everyone floats around and is spaced out; where no real contact or rough stuff goes on in class.

Tai Chi teaches us how to walk. Every step is slow and exaggerated, so we have a chance to notice and shape every detail of the process. My students and I practice what I call feather walking to prepare us physically and mentally to do the Tai Chi sequence.

Internal power manifests when there is a merging of physical mechanics with what we might term physical-energetic poles. In terms of the internal ­martial arts, it is the result of a ­special kind of force brought about by solving the puzzle at the core of the healing and martial arts: how to find the proper relationship be­tween energy and structure.

Knee injuries are regrettably common among martial artists and people in general. They’re stubborn and slow to heal. Using massage and self-applied acupressure, this exercise nourishes the knee with blood and qi. It can speed the repair process and, better yet, prevent injuries from occurring.

A philosophy subsumes principles. In taijiquan there are abundant principles to fill many inch-thick books published. All these principles tie-in with the philosophy of taiji. Taiji is the draw-string of a net of principles. To talk about principles without touching on philosophy makes for diverse beliefs and different schools